Juice press



Filed Jan. 51, 1964 Oct. 18, 1966 J. FARMER 3,279,357

JUICE PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet l g 9 g 63 47i i i i L 6 5 3 John Farmer hisAttorney Inventor:

J. FARMER JUICE PRES S Uct. 18, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31,1964 FIG. 3

Inventor: J o hn Farmer his Attorney Oct. 18, 1966 J. FARMER 3,279,357

JUICE PRESS Filed Jan. 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 In v ento r: JohnFarmer FIG. 42 By his Attorney J. FARMER JUICE PRESS Oct. 18, 1966 4Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Jan. 31, 1964 FIG. H

In ve nio r:

John Farmer zdwwm FIG- 13 his Attorney United States Patent 3,279,357JUICE PRESS John Farmer, Oahu, Hawaii, assignor to Honolulu Iron WorksCompany, Honolulu, Hawaii, a corporation of Hawaii Filed Jan. 31, 1964,Ser. No. 341,659 26 Claims. (Cl. 100-74) This invention relates topresses for extracting juice from sugar cane and other juice-containingmaterials.

Although not so limited in its purview, the particular concern of thepresent invention is the extraction of sugar juice from sugar cane. Ithas been the almost universal practice for many years to extract juicefrom the sugar cane by mill trains, which, in the usual arrangement,have two or more three-roll mills. With its massive mills and enormousappetite for power, a mill train extracts juice from cane mainly bybrute force by passing the cane and, after the first crushing, thebagasse between the rolls of its succession of mills.

A mill train may depend either on its mills or in more moderninstallations on a preceding crushing or crushing and shredding devicefor rupturing the juice-containing cells of the cane. In either case, itextracts juice by forcing the bagasse through openings between the rollsof its mills that are too small to accept both the juice and the fiberand so cause the excess juice to be stripped off. Some 85% of the juicein the cane is loosely held in the large thin-walled parenchyma or mainstorage cells. The remaining 15% is tightly held within the tough piecescontaining the rind and node tissue, in unbroken cells, in pockets inslightly broken cells, in the fibro-vascular bundles and to the pith andfiber. With the tremendous pressures of 10,00015,000 p.s.i. exertedbetween the top and discharge rolls of its mills, a mill train canreadily extract about 90% of the juice but the resilience of the fiberand its affinity for juice preclude the recovery of the remaining bypractically obtainable pressures. It therefore is customary to increasethe effectiveness of a mill train by maceration or imbibition in whichthe bagasse in advance of at least the intermediate mills is sprayedwith water, or, in compound maceration, dilute juice. This increases theliquid content of the bagasse presented to the mills and enables thelatter to strip off a greater percentage of the residual or initialjuice in the form of progressively more dilute juice. Even so, duelargely to the impossibility of obtaining much more than superficial orsurface mixing of the applied liquid and the residual juice within thetotal processing time of about 45 secs., entraining or trapping of airin the bagasse as it expands on release from the tremendous pressuresafter passing through each pair of rolls, and a phenomenon known asreabsorption which, at the speeds and pressures of the rolls, causesmore liquid to pass or be squirted through them than their openingsshould accept, a mill train, with maceration, extracts usually no morethan 93% of the residual juice, with 95% the practical limit. As aresult, millions of tons of sugar are burned annually with thedischarged bagasse and forever lost.

Recently, there has been considerable developmental work on adapting thediffusion process, used so successfully and now universally on sugarbeets, for extracting juice from cane. In this process water introducedat the material discharge end of the diffuser, is circulated crosswiseor transversely through succeeding sections of a moving mat of bagasse,fiovving by gravity through each section and becoming increasing richerjuice as it progresses countercurrent the bagasse to a point of liquiddischarge adjacent the material infeed end of the diffuser.

3,279,357 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 The bagasse discharged from thediffuser is very wet and must be pressed to reduce its juice contentbefore it can be used further. In the application of the diffusionprocess to sugar beets, the beets, before being introduced into thediffuser, are sliced into thin chips or cossettes and, as to them, thediffusion that takes place in the diffuser is a combination of diffusionin the physical chemistry sense of a spontaneous intermixing of theapplied liquid or diluent and the residual juice from ruptured cells andosmosis or dialysis in which the sucrose is selectively extractedthrough the walls of the unbroken cells, leaving behind the impurities.However, the very different structure of sugar cane does not adapt itfor such preparation and, as applied to it thus far, the diffusionprocess has been essentially a washing process, dependent for itseffectiveness upon preliminary rupturing of cells to expose the juicefor mixing with the water.

With the best of available devices, cane prepared by cutting, crushingand shredding will have around 94% of its cells ruptured and, as appliedto such cane, the diffusion process has been able to extract at bestabout 96% of the juice, in part presumably by some osmotic action. Notonly is the remaining 4% or so of the residual juice in the cane beyondits reach but the process is slow (about forty minutes), its equipmentrequires a disproportionately large space for its output and isill-adapted to the washing action to which its extraction is primarilyattributable and the liquid content of the bagasse from the diffuser isso high as to present a diflicult and expensive problem in reducing thatcontent to the point where the bagasse can be used either as fuel or forby-products.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedpress for extracting juice from juicecontaining material whereby a massof such material is driven through a point of maximum pressure to reduceits liquid content, while being subjected to a diluent liquid introducedin advance of that point and forced countercurrent through the materialto wash out juice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a juice press whereby amass of juice-containing material is moved within a confined spacetoward a maximum pressure point at which its liquid content is reduced,while being subjected to the washing action of a diluent liquidintroduced under pressure into the space in advance of the pressurepoint.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a juice presswhereby a mass of juice-containing material is compressed by beingdriven through a confined space of progressively decreasingcross-section to a point of maximum compression and, While beingsubjected to a diluent liquid introduced under pressure into the spacein advance of the pressure point and forced countercurrent through thematerial by the composite of its own pressure and the pressure exertedupon the material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary juice presswhich is capable of positively feeding a mass of juice-containingmaterial into a confined space toward a pressure point without impedingthe flow of a diluent liquid forced counter-current through the materialwithin that space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary juice presswherein a mass of juice-containing material is driven through a confinedspace between a stationary surface and a rotary drum by the coaction ofa positive feed and the difference in the coefficients of friction ofthat surface and the surface of the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary rake press forextracting juice from juice-containing material wherein a mass of suchmaterial is fed into a confined space of progressively decreasingcross-section between a stationary pressure plate and a rotary drummounted eccentrically relative to the plate by tines projectableradially from the drum, thereby enabling a diluent liquid to beintroduced into the space adjacent a trailing end thereof and forcedwithout interference counter-current through the material to a point ofliquid discharge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary press forextracting juice from juice-containing material wherein a mass of suchmaterial is positively fed into a confined space between a non-rotarypressure plate and a rotary drum against a counter-flowing liquiddiluent and, as it leaves the space, is compressed between the drum anda squeeze roll'for expressing part of its liquid, thereby reducing theliquid content of the discharged material below that of the enteringmaterial.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary press of theabove-described character wherein the pressure plate and squeeze rollare adjustable relative to the drum for varying the pressures exertedtherebetween upon the material and controlling the amount of liquidexpressed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a press for extractingjuice from juice-containing material wherein the material not only issubjected to a counter-flowing diluent liquid under pressure but theliquid is readily recirculated one or more times by regulating thedriving force on it to increase the effectiveness of its action upon thematerial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary rake press forextracting juice from juice-containing material which, by using tines ona rotor to feed a mass of such material into a confined space between anon-rotary surface and the rotor against a counter-flowing liquiddiluent, enables the material to be presented to the press both soakingWet and hot, with benefit rather than detriment to the action of thepress in extracting juice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary rake press forextracting juice from juice-containing material wherein a mass of thematerial is fed into a confined space of progressively decreasingcross-section between a non-rotary pressure plate and a rotary drumeccentrically mounted relative to the plate by tines which projectradially from the drum and are positively extended and retractedrelative to its surface as the drum rotates.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved feed forfeeding juice-containing material to a point of maximum pressure which,by using as its feeding means tines carried by and projectable andretractable radially of a rotary drum, is enabled elfectively to handleeven material that, when presented for feeding, is either very wet withdiluent or hot or both.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter inthe detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theimproved juice press of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the press of FIG- URE 1 taken fromits material discharge end;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along lines 66 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view on the section of FIGURE 4 and on anenlarged scale showing in detail the diluent inlet;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front elevational View on an enlarged scale ofthe inner end portion of one of the tines;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the tine of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an inner end view of the tine of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view on the section of FIGURE 4 of analternate positive drive for the tines;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along lines12-12 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a vertical sectional view on a section corresponding tothat of FIGURE 4 of another embodiment of the press of this invention;and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the press of FIGURE 13 with thehopper and scrapers removed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like referencecharacters designate like parts, the improved juice press of the presentinvention, in its capability of extracting juice from juice-containingmaterial and discharging the material in a relatively dry condition, canbe used alone on some materials. However, as applied to a material suchas sugar cane in which about 15% of the juice is tightly held and theobjective is to render it commercially feasible to extract a higherpercentage than that obtainable by a conventional mill train, theimproved press is primarily designed for use in an improved processemploying a plurality of such presses arranged to act successively uponthe bagasse and including other 7 devices for preparing and treating thecane for action by the presses so as to extract the desired highpercentage of the juice.

' In the conventional milling process, juice is extracted from sugarcane initially as rich juice and in later stages, after the addition ofwater or dilute juice, as progressively more dilute juice, bycompressing the cane or bagasse to the maximum practical extent so as tostrip off the excess liquid. Considering the term cells in accordancewith industry practice to include both the cells and the tubes withinthe cane or stalk in which its juice is contained, the juice extractedby milling is derived entirely from ruptured cells. Now recognized asessentially washing, difiusion, too, as applied to sugar cane, derivesthe extracted juice practically entirely from ruptured cells. It,therefore, is essential to the efiectiveness of both processes that aslarge as possible a percent of the cells be ruptured. In diffusion,cells can only be ruptured by preparing the cane before it is introducedinto the diffuser, usually by successive cutting, crushing and shreddingoperations. Milling may also include similar preparation of the cane, orin some installations, the mills themselves may be entirely responsiblefor rupturing cells.

Mixing of the diluent liquid and the residual juice from ruptured cellsis recognized as desirable in both processes and is obtained to a largedegree in diffusion by the long period in which the bagasse is exposedto the diluent, but cell rupture alone will not ensure that all thejuice from the ruptured cells will be extracted by either process. Evenafter a cell has been ruptured, part of the juice it contained is boundby molecular attraction to its walls and this bond is not readily brokeneither by the pressures exerted in milling or by the low energy diluentflowing under only gravitational forces through the 'bagasse indiffusion. In milling, tests have indicated that good mixing wouldenable the pressures to be reduced without reduction in theeffectiveness of the extraction, but such mixing of the diluent liquidand the residual juice from the ruptured cells is not practicallyobtainable. The milling process is of too short duration and the fiberhas the capacity to absorb about ten times its weight of moisture, as aresult of which liquid sprayed upon the mat of bagasse in the briefinterval of its passage between successive mills is largely absorbed bythe fiber adjacent the mats surface. Too, even were good mixingobtainable in milling, the liquid content of bagasse that a mill canhandle is quite limited.

Temperature is another of the factors that can affect the extraction ofjuice from sugar cane. Temperatures as high as l58 F. are ineffectiveexcept over a long period, but higher temperatures of from -185 F. willact quickly and both soften the fiber and kill or destroy the walls ofthe living cells so that they become fully permeable tocounter-migration of the juice and the diluent by diffusion withoutdependence upon dialysis. This effect can be obtained in diffusion byapplying heat to the diluent as it is circulated through the bagasse butin milling the heatin of the bagasse by increasing its slipperinesstends to choke the mills.

Not only is a mill ill-suited to handle very wet or hot material but, asbriefly mentioned earlier, the tremendous pressures on which it reliesfor extracting juice are in part selfdefeating due to reabsorption.These same pressures also have an adverse effect upon mixing byimbibition between mills. The resilience of the fiber is such that onrelease of the pressure the bagasse springs back substantially to itsinitial volume and in process draws air into its interstices includingthe ruptured cells from which juice has been expressed. The air soentrapped, to the extent that it is interposed between the residualjuice and the applied diluent, impairs the miscibility of the liquids.

The improved juice press of the present invention is more akin to adiffuser than to a mill but differs from and has advantages over both.Whatever its form, the improved press has a laterally confined space orzone of progressively increasing pressure through which juicecontainingmaterial is moved, means for driving the material through the space, apoint, area or zone of maximum pressure adjacent the material dischargeend of the space, and means for introducing dilute juice or other liquiddiluent into the space in advance of the maximum pressure point andforcing it under positive pressure through the space longitudinally ofand counter-current to the material to a point, area or Zone of liquiddischarge adjacent the material infeed end of the press. Depending onits form, the press may drive the juice-containing material through thelaterally confined space by a rotor or rotary member contained partly orwholly in a stationary member defining an opposite side of the space,endless belts at opposite sides of the space or other drive meanssuitable for the particular form.

Possessing the foregoing characteristics the preferred, illustrated formof the juice press, designated as 1, is a rotary press which has as itsdriving, propelling, progressing or forcing member a rotary drum orrotor 2 having a cylindrical shell or side wall 3 of cast steel, iron orlike material. A hub or end assembly 4 is bolted or otherwise releasablysecured to each end of the preferred drum 2 and the latter is rotatablymounted in a pair of split ball or other suitable anti-friction bearings5, each of which is attached, as by bolting, to and supported on one ofa pair of preferably cast side frames 6 and journals the hub, stub axle,or journal 7 of the adjoining or related assembly. Partly containing thedrum 2 and in the illustrated embodiment covering or including about 120of the circumference of the shell 3, is a pressure plate 8 desirablydisposed below and co-extensive laterally or axially with the shell andhaving an arcuately concave, preferably cylindrical inner face orsurface 9 confronting and of somewhat greater radius than theconfronting outer or pe ripheral surface or side 1t) of the shell.Between their surfaces 9 and 10, the shell 3 and the pressure plate 8,together bound or define the vertical or upper and lower extremities orlimits of a laterally or transversely confined space, compartment orchamber 11 which conveniently is contained or bounded at the sides byperipheral flanges 12 rigid or integral with and projecting or extendingradially from the hubs 7 of the hub assemblies 4 beyond at least thesurface of the pressure plate.

While non-rotatable and permissively fixed, the preferred pressure plate8 is hingedly, pivotably or swingably mounted adjacent one end on ahinge bar 13 extending laterally between and connected at its ends tothe side frames 6. The opposite end of the preferred hinged pres sureplate 8 is supported on one or preferably a plurality of hydraulic orfluid-actuated cylinders 14 pivotably connected to the pressure plateand themselves supported on brackets 15 rigid with and radiallyoutstanding from a cross bar 16 which is fixed at its ends to the sideframes 6 and spaced longitudinally thereof from the hinge bar 13.

If, as is preferred in extracting juice from sugar cane, thejuice-containing material is fed by gravity to the press 1, the lattermay be surmounted by a feed hopper or bin 17 which opens downwardly ontothe rotary drum 2 through a top opening 18 in the press. With such agravity feed, the juice-containing material conveniently is led or fedaround the drum 2 to the space 11 past a perforate or foraminous outerwall 19 which in the preferred press 1 is suitably formed by aperforated plate 20 backed by a plurality of sections of grate bars 21extending circumferentially of the drum, the sections being arrangedside by side and having their frames 22 pinned or secured, as by hingepins 23, at their lower or trailing ends to the leading or hinged end ofthe pressure plate 8 and at their upper or leading ends to side platesor closure members 24 fixed to and upstanding from the side frames 6.Conveniently mounting the hopper 17 at the sides, the side plates 24enclose or cover at the sides the portions of the end flanges 12 of thedrums 2 which project above the side frames 6 and have instanding lips25 that partly overlie and approach closely the adjoining portions ofthe rims 26 of the flanges.

Unlike the feed zone or inlet passage 27 between the perforate outerwall 19 and the shell 3 of the drum 2 which leads to and forms an upwardor forward extension of the space 11, the latter has in the inner face 9of the pressure plate 8 an outer wall which preferably is smooth andimperforate or closed except that it is slotted or apertured laterallyor transversely over substantially its full width adjacent its trailingend, suitably by a slot, aperture or opening 28. To minimize resistanceto movement or passage of the juice-containing material through thespace 11 over the pressure plate 8, the latters inner face 9 should besmooth and, rather than being metal, preferably is formed by a facing orlining 29 of Teflon, Gatke, Kel-F or like lubricious or low frictionalcoefficient material which is bonded to a rigid metal backing 30 makingup the bulk of the plate.

The perforate wall 19 and the pressure plate 8 are both non-rotary andstationary except for the preferred adjustability of the spacing betweenthe confronting surfaces 9 and 10 of the pressure plate and the shell 3of the drum 2 obtained by the hinged mounting of the pressure plate, andthe space 11 is bounded laterally by the end flanges 12 on the drum 2,which with the side plates 24 also laterally bound the inlet passage 27preferred. The press 1 thus has in the space 11, a laterally ortransversely confined space and in perforate outer wall 19 formed by thescreen 20 and openings 31 between the slots or grate bars, a liquidoutlet or discharge area or point adjacent the material infeed orleading end of the space. As illustrated, the lower part of theperforate outer wall 19 of the inlet passage 27, backed by the laterallyspaced grate bars 21 and their frames 22, may be substantiallyconcentric with the inner face 9 of the pressure plate 8. The outersurface 10 of the shell 3 of the drum 2 may also be concentric with the1nner face 9 of the pressure plate 8, in which case the inlet passage27, downwardly or rearwardly from the point concentricity of its outerwall 19 and the space 11, will be of uniform cross-section. In suchcase, the point or area of maximum pressure, rather than being locatedor positioned between a movable driving member and a stationary memberfully or, as illustrated, partly containing the driving member, willordinarily be located beyond the trailing or material discharge end ofthe pressure plate 8 and may be the opening or nip 32 between thesurface 10 of the shell 3 and the surface 33 of a counter-rotatingsqueeze roll 34 rotatably mounted on the side frame-s 6 at the dischargeside of the drum 2 and shiftable radially relative to the drum bysuitable means, such as illustrated hydraulic cylinders 35. However, as

in the illustrated embodiment, it is preferred to mount the drum 2eccentrically of the inner face 9 of the pressure plate 8, with thedrums axis shifted toward the trailing end of the pressure plate, so asto make the space 11 and at least the adjoining part of the inletpassage 27 volute or crescent-shaped, with a decrease in crosssectionalarea, here progressive, toward the trailing end of the pressure plate.With this preferred construction, the juice-containing material fed intothe press will be progressively compressed or compacted as it approachesthe trailing or material outlet end of the space 11 and that end or apoint within the space adjacent thereto, may be the point or area ofmaximum pressure. Even when the space 11 is made volute so that it isnot only a confined space but a pressure space or chamber, as well, it,nonetheless, is preferred to include the squeeze roll 34 as part of thepress 30 as to drive the material through this area of maximum pressureby the co-act-ion of the drum and the squeeze roll, rather than by thedrum alone.

To prevent any of the material from adhering or clingingto the surfaces10 and 33 of the drum 2 and, if used, the squeeze roll 34, there shouldbe scrapers or scraper plates 36 and 37 positioned about them beyond thenip 32 to scrape off any such material. In the illustrated embodimentthe scraper plates 36 and 37 of the drum 2 and the roll 34,respectively, are spaced in substantially parallel relation and servenot only as scrapers but to bound opposite sides of a material dischargeor outlet passage 38 through which the partly dried discharged materialis directed toward a succeeding processing stage. In part to compensatefor wear, the scrapers 36 and 37 should be movable rather than fixed andto this end each of the scrapers may be fixed to one of a pair of blocksor bars 39, both journalled in the same uprights 40 fixed to andupstanding from the side frames 6 and each having fixed to one or eachend a swing arm 41, the free end of which is connected to the adjoiningside frame. The swing arms 41 of both scrapers 36 and 37 may beconnected by rods to one or both side frames 6, but, whether the squeezeroll 34 is smooth or rough-surfaced, its scraper 37 preferably isspring-urged against it to compensate for its movement against thepressure of the hydraulic cylinders 35, while the drum scraper 36 may befixable at a selected spacing from the drum. In keeping, the rod 42connecting one or each swing arm 41 of the roll scraper 37 to theadjoining side frame 6, carries a compression spring 43 acting betweenthe arm and the side frame, while each connecting rod 44 for the drumscraper 36 carries adjusting nuts 45 on opposite sides of the associatedswing arm.

7 The transverse slot or aperture 28 interrupting the inner face 9 ofthe pressure plate 8, is purposed to admit dilute juice or other liquiddiluent into the space 11 for washing juice out of a mass ofjuice-containing material moving through the space by flowingcounter-current through the material to the liquid discharge or outlet19 adjacent, or in advance or ahead of the leading end of this space.The liquid diluent is admitted to or introduced or injected into thespace 11 at positive or superatmospheric pressure through the transverseslot 28 and, as admitted, preferably is distributed substantiallyuniformly across or over the width of the space. For the latter purpose,the diluent, pumped or driven by a suitable pump 46, is led through aninlet pipe 47 to a header 48 and thence through connecting pipes 49 to adistributing chamber 50 of V- or other suitable shape in the pressureplate 8 below or outwardly of the latters inner surface 9 and openingupwardly or inwardly through the slot 28 onto the space 11. If, as inthe case of sugar cane, some of the juice released from ruptured cellsis molecularly bonded or otherwise clings or is held tightly to thefiber or other material, the press 1 preferably is provided with an airinlet line 51 branched for connection to the connecting pipes 49 andsupplied from a suitable source (not shown) with compressed air, thesupply of which is interrupted intermittently by suitable means, such asthe illustrative interrupter 52. So supplied, the liquid diluent, asintroduced into the space 11, will contain slugs of air which, by thefriction engendered at their interfaces with the residual juice, willenable the diluent as it is subsequently forced through the material, tomake use of the Dupre effect in wiping or rubbing exposed but tightlyheld juice from the material.

The juice press 1 of the main embodiment in which the juice-containingmaterial is both fed into the inlet passage 27 and driven through thatpassage and the preferred volute pressure space 11 by the drum 2, canbest be described as a rotary rake press. Capable, contrary to a mill,of handling even hot, soaking or sopping wet material, the pressemploys, to feed juice-containing material from the hopper 17 or othersupply into the inlet passage 27, a plurality of rakes 53 mounted on, inor carried by and arranged in circumferentially spaced relation aboutthe shell 3 and each formed of a row of tines 54 extending substantiallyacross the shell. The tines of each rake or row 53 may be aligned orstaggered, but whether the overall arrangement is the illustrated columnof straight parallel rows or of chevron or other suitable pattern, therows should be uniformly spaced about the shell, with the spacingbetween adjoining rows suited to the particular material beingprocessed, so that the force applied by the rakes will be substantiallyuniformly distributed over the mass of the material.

To adapt them to pass the point or zone of maximum pressure, here thenip 32 of the shell 3 and the counterrotating squeeze roll 34, theindividual tines 54 are dis posed or directed radially of the shell andare slidably mounted therein in preferably lined apertures 55 extendingradially therethrough, so as to be projectable'or extendable andretractable or radially reciprocable relative to the shells surface 10.At the speed of from 3-10 rpm. at which the drum 2 will ordinarily berotated, centrifugal force will not be suflicient to project the tines54. Also, it is preferred that the projection of the tines stop short ofthe surface 9 of the pressure plate, about 1 in. in the illustratedpress, so that they will be fully retracted into the shell 3 as theyreach the trailing end of the pressure space 11. Thus, at least theprojection of the tines will be under a controlled positive force. Sucha force can be obtained by stationarily mounting in the drum 2 a hollowcylindrical core, pulley or cylinder 56 concentric with the inner face 9of the pressure plate 8, against which the inner ends of the tines 54press, with the counter pressure of the juice-containing material andfinally the squeeze roll 34 relied upon for retraction. However, theresultant impositive control of retraction has drawbacks and it usuallywill be preferable for the tines 54 to be positively driven bothoutwardly and inwardly relative to the surface 10' of the shell 3.

The core 56 is adaptable for positive projection and retraction bydrivably connecting or interlocking it with the tines 54. In the mainembodiment, this is accomplished by mounting on the core 56 a pluralityof axially spaced annular tracks, bands or rings 57 raised or upstandingfrom the peripheral surface 58 of the core and each slidably fitting orreceived at the sides in radial slots 59 in adjoining pairs of the tines54 of each rake 53. The core 56 in this case is stationarily mounted inthe shell 3 of the rotary drum 2 by providing it at either end with astub shaft 60 eccentric to it but concentric with the drum and extendinginto the hub 7 at the adjoining end of the drum. For holding the coreagainst rotation, one or either of the shafts 60 has fixed to its outerend outwardly of the adjoining hub 7 a radial arm 61, the end of whichis secured to the adjoining side frame 6. In the illustrated press thepoint of maximum projection of the tines 54 is within the limits of theinlet passage 27 and diametrically opposite the squeeze roll 34. If, inthe operation of the press, angular shifting, movement or adjustment ofthis point appears desirable, it is obtainable by providing for eachradial arm 61 an anchor plate 62 on a side of the adjoining side frame6, to which the outer end of the arm is selectively securable in any ofa plurality of annularly related positions, as by providing in the platea series of circumferentially spaced holes 63 for receiving a bolt 64 onthe end of the arm. Since assembly and disassembly of the drum 2 andcore 56 and individual insertion and removal of the tines 54 forreplacement or other purpose would otherwise be impossible, it isnecessary that the tongue-and-slo-t interlock between the tines and thetracks 57 be releasable. This is readily accomplishable Withoutinterference with the drive of the tines 54 by interrupting the tracks67 by transverse notches, interruptions or breaks 57a through which theassociated tines can pass. These notches 57a preferably are laterallyaligned and conveniently located in the area along the path of movementof the tines 54 beyond the squeeze roll 34 and radial movement of thetines as they cross the notches sufficient to misalign their slots 59with the tracks normally is prevented by a removable retainer or coverplate 17a covering the outer ends of the tines over that area.

In the alternative arrangement shown in FIGURES 11 and 12, the positiveforce for retracting the tines 54 is magnetic and, as well could be donewith the interlocking tracks and tines of the main arrangement, the core56 is free to turn or rotate with the tines and thus minimize wear dueto sliding friction. In this alternative arrangement, the magnetic forceis supplied by horseshoe magnets 65 of Alnico or similar permanentlymagnetized material. The magnets 65 extend longitudinally across thecore 56 and are embedded therein so that their ends are flush with itssurface 58. With the spacing of adjoining magnets roughly approximatingthe gap between the poles of each magnet, there is obtained over thesurface 58 of the core 56 a permanent magnetic field which suffices tohold the tines to the surface and thus provide the desired positiveretraction. As the resistance to relative turning of the tines 54 andthe core 56 will be somewhat greater than if only sliding friction wereinvolved, it usually will be beneficial to minimize this effect bymounting the magnetic core for free rotation with the tines. Toaccomplish this, without precluding angular adjustability of the pointof maximum projection of the tines 54, the illustrated magnetic core 56is supported on the shafts 60 which, as in the main arrangement, areconcentric with the hubs 7 of the drum 2 and the required offset of thecore 56 relative to the drum to make it concentric with the inner face 9of the pressure plate 8, is obtained by forming the shafts as eccentricor radially offset extensions of a central shaft 66 on which the core isrotatably mounted.

With its tines 54 so positively projectable and retractable and thepoint of maximum projection, if desired, adjustable, the drum 2 of themain embodiment preferably has the surface 10 of its shell 3 interruptednot only by the radial tine-receiving apertures 55 but also by at leastcircumferential grooves 67 for increasing the frictional resistancebetween the surface and the material and thus enabling the surface, aswell as the tines, to apply a substantial driving force in moving thematerial through the press,

The other embodiment shown in FIGURES 13 and 14 is like the mainembodiment'except that it relies for feeding the juice-containingmaterial into the inlet passage 27 upon a fed roll 68 instead of thetines. Rotating counter to the drum 2, the feed roll 68 co-acts with thedrum in feeding material into the inlet passage 27 and, to improve thisaction, both the feed roll and the shell 3 of the drum in thisembodiment are circumferentially and longitudinal ly or cross-groovedfor better grip of the material. Even so, this feed is not capable ofhandling as Wet material as the tines 64 but is usable in place of thelatter upon drier material.

The various rotary members of the press of each embodiment, the drum 2and squeeze roll 34 of the first and the additional feed roll 68 of thesecond, can be driven by a single motor (not shown) coupled throughreduction gearing (not shown) to the drum with the auxiliary roll orrolls driven off the drum. Some flexibility in the relative peripheralspeeds of the drum and roll or rolls can be obtained with such a singlemotor by use of a V- belt and vari-pulley driving connection rather thangearing between the rotary members and, if more flexibility is desired,the rotary members can be driven by separate, independently controllablemotors.

Whether constructed in the preferred manner or otherwise, the improvedpress 1 of this invention is like unto mill and diffusion in beingdependent for efficient extraction of juice upon prior preparation ofthe material. In the case of sugar cane, the prior or initial physicalpreparation of the cane may involve shredding it by a Searby or likeshredder in which it is passed between rotor-mounted swing hammers andfixed anvils to distintegrate the cane into fibers, or both crushing andshredding it, as by a Maxwell crusher and shredder, in which it is firstcrushed between crushing rolls and then combed by a sharptoothed rollinto fine shreds. Alternatively, the cane can be cut into short lengthsand then crushed and shredded, as in preparing it for diffusion, or evenpassed through a two or three-roll mill. In any case the objective is torupture a high percentage of the cells. This physical preparation may beand, with the ability of either form of the press 1 to handle wettermaterial than a mill, preferably is supplemented by subjecting thebagasse before it reaches the press to dilute juice or other liquiddiluent which preferably is hot so that, when circulated through thebagasse, it can both wash out loose juice and heat the bagasse to thecritical range of l75185 F. at which the fibers are softened and theliving cells killed. The use of the feed hopper 17 surmounting the press1 for this purpose has the additional advantage of compacting thebagasse in the bottom of the hopper by the pressure of the column ofbagasse and diluent to facilitate feeding and mixing and ensure againstgaps in the supply, and the hopper can readily be adapted forre-circulation of the diluent by providing a screened opening 69 in thebottom portion of its sloping side wall 70 through which the diluent andany of the rich juice it has picked up can pass to a sump or tank 71below the press.

Picked up by the tines 54 of the main embodiment or between thecircumferentially and cross-grooved shell 3 and feed roll 63 of thealternate feed FIGURES 13 and 14, the prepared bagasse is fed therebyinto the inlet passage 27 from whence it moves into the space 11 andfinal-1y between the shell 3 and the squeeze roll 34, and, so long asthe supply is uninterrupted, the bagasse with either feed will movewithin the press as a continuous mass, mat or blanket. Studies of thecoefficient friction of bagasse on a smooth steel plate and a groovedrotor have shown that on a stationary smooth plate the dynamiccoefficient decreases with increase in pressure from about .4 at 20p.s.i. to about .15 at 2000 p.s.i., while on a grooved rotor moving withthe bagasse the static coefficient increases with increase in pressurefrom about .5 at 20 p.s.i. to over .7 beyond p.s.i. These studiesfurther showed that the addition of moisture decreased the dynamiccoefficient on the plate but had little effect upon the staticcoefficient on the rotor. From these studies it is apparent that, evenat the low pressures contemplated in the contained spaces 11 and 27 inthe press, ranging from around 5 p.s.i. in the upper or leading part ofthe inlet passage 27 to around 35 p.s.i. and not over 100 p.s.i. at thetrailing end of the pressure space 11, and with no moisture addedbeforehand, there will be a difference in the coefficients of frictionof the bagasse in favor of that on the shell surface 11 of about .1. Theuse of the preferred Teflon or like lubricious lining 29 on the pressureplate 8 will decrease the coefficient on the plates inner face 9 to lessthan .1, with a corresponding increase of the difference in favor of theshell surface to more than .4, and this dilference will be furtherincreased if the bagasse is Wet with diluent when presented to thepress. This difference in the coefiicients on the two surfaces 9 and 10,with the usual entrance angle therebetween only around is more thanenough to enable the grooved or roughened surface 10 of the shell toapply a positive driving force to the bagasse greater than the opposingforces applied by the counter-flowing diluent introduced through theslot 28 and the pressure exerted upon the bagasse first by the decreasein the cross-sections of the spaces 27 and 11 and later by the squeezeroll 34. Thus, once the bagasse has reached the smooth face 9 of thepressure plate 10, the drum 2, by the friction engendered between it andthe bagasse, can drvie the latter the rest of the way without anyassistance but will be assisted almost to the end by the force appliedby the tines 54 of the main form and, so long as there are no gaps inthe supply and the bagasse moves within the press as a continuousblanket, by the force applied earlier by the feed roll 68 of the otherform.

For the press to operate as intended, it is of course necessary that thecounter-flowing liquid introduced through the slot 28 into the laterallyconfined space 11, be free to pass longitudinally through the bagasse tothe liquid outlet 19 beyond or ahead of the leading end of the pressureplate 3. In the second form of FIGURES 13 and 14 in which the bagasse isfed by the feed roll 68,

there is nothing to interfere with the required passage of the diluentexcept the bagasse itself and tests have established that thepermeability of bagasse under pressure in the direction of the appliedpressure is as little as onetenth that in the transverse direction. Thedirection of the pressure exerted on the bagasse both by the pressureplate 8 and by the squeeze roll 34 being forward toward the leading endof the space 11, the applied pressure thus Will apply a force causingthe diluent to flow in exactly the direction desired and this force willbe increased by the pressure at which the liquid is introduced.

In the main form, counter-flowing diluent will be deflected by and passbetween the laterally spaced tines 54 of each rake or row 53 and be butlittle affected in its flow under the applied forces. Moreover, anyadverse effect of the tines upon How of the diluent is more thancompensated for by the gaps in the bagasse formed behind the tines,which, by being filled with the diluent as it passes the tines, aid indistributing the diluent uniformly over the area of the blanket on anygiven cross-section.

The preferred progressive decrease in the cross-sectional area of thespace 11 accompanying an increase in the pressure applied by thepressure plate 8 from somewhat more than 5 p.s.i. at the leading end tofrom 35 to 100 psi. at the trailing end of the space, will compress thebagasse mat in a direction radial of the drum 2 from about 4" to about1". Since a mat of bagasse of the thickness of that entering the space11 at the pressure there applied, even When subjected to a pressure onthe order of 6,000 psi, will be compressed only to about A", the 1"thick mat at the trailing end of the space will be only about one-fourthfiber. Thus, the density of the fiber at any point in the pressure space11 will not be sufficient to prevent the required counter-flow of thediluent under the applied pressure.

The subjection of the bagasse in the pressure space 11 and at least inpart in the inlet passage 27 to the action of diluent flowinglongitudinally through it under positive or superatmospheric pressure,alone is much more effective in washing out or carrying away residualjuice than diluent flowing only under gravity, as in the diffusionprocess, and, as mentioned earlier, the washing action of the diluentunder pressure can be rendered even more efiicient by introducing slugsof air with the diluent to take advantage of the Dupre effect, inrubbing off any exposed residual juice clinging tightly to the fiber.Too, wetting or other beneficial chemical agents can be introduced withthe diluent and within the space 11 it is possible to increase furtherthe kinetic energy of the diluent,

12 1 derived from its rate of flow and the preferred heat, by subjectingthe contents of the space to ultra-sonic or other suitable agitation.

A particular advantage of the improved press over a diffuser is that, byregulating the pressure at which it is introduced, the diluent can becirculated not once but a plurality of times through a given section ofthe bagasse mat as it passes through the pressure space 11. The maximumlength of the path over which the bagasse is exposed to the diluent isthat of the pressure space 12 and the inlet passage 27 to the point ofexit of the diluent and considerably shorter than that in a diffuser.However, as opposed to the cross-wise and intermittent path in adiffuser, the length-wise path in the press 1 affords continuous contactbetween the bagasse and the diluent. Too, with the drum turning at onlyaround 3-10 r.p.m., the movement of the bagasse will be slow and in theillustrated arrangement in which the space 11 and inlet passage togetherspan about 215 of the circumference of the shell 3, the path for eachcirculation of diluent will be approximately between /3 and /s of thatcircumference. Thus, for a press of convenient size capable of handlingaround tons of cane per hour and for a pressure space 11 decreasing fromaround 4 in. to around 1 in. in height, a shell about 5 ft. wide and 3ft. in diameter, the maxi mum path will be almost 6 ft. While this pathis short compared with that in a diffuser, the contact over it of theresidual juice and diluent is uninterrupted and it suflices for theaccelerated action of the diluent under the pressure at which it isapplied to produce the mixing or difiusion required for washing orrinsing residual juice from the fiber. Too, further acceleration of theaction of the diluent is readily obtained by conducting the washingunder heat and any of the other of the beneficial conditions previouslymentioned. Both residual and applied juice are pressed from the bagassemat or blanket, prior to its discharge from the press 1, by the squeezeroll 34 and a pressure between the roll and the drum 2 on the preferredorder of from 1,000 to 2,500 p.s.i., and far below that of a mill, willhave the salutary effect ofrupturing and releasing juice fromcells thatwere missed in preparing the cane. The juice so extracted can also bedrained into the tank 71. Another important purpose of the squeeze roll34 is to reduce the juice content of the discharged bagasse to a pointwhere it is readily handleable for further processing and a pressure ofthe preferred order will accomplish this by reducing the juice contentto less than 70%. So reduced, the discharged bagasse will contain about28 parts of juice to 12 parts of fiber, far below the juice content ofthe initial cane which for the same twelve parts of fibers is abouteighty-eight parts juice. Even were the bagasse delivered to the pressof the same fiber and juice composition as cane, there therefore wouldbe an overall reduction in its juice content as it passed through thepress and this reduction is the greater if, as preferred, the bagasse,when introduced, is wet with diluent.

Aptly termed from its functions, a pressure rinse and squeeze press, anddesigned to act upon bagasse from which a large percentage of theinitial rich juice has previously been extracted incident to thepreparation of the cane, the improved juice press, mainly by itspressure was-hing or rinsing action, is capable of extracting some 7580%of the residual juice from such bagasse, particularly if the latter isdelivered to it both wet and hot. The pressure at which the diluent isapplied makes use for extraction of tightly held juice of far morekinetic energy than is available in the gentle washing of the diffusionprocess and the preferred prior heating of the bagasse augments thisenergy in addition to softening the fibers and killing living cells. Bydriving the bagasse through a point of maximum pressure beforedischarge, the press discharges the bagasse in a relatively dry, readilyhandle-able condition, as opposed to the diffusion process, and itspower requirements relative to a mill are exceedingly small. Thus, apress of the previously mentioned size, capable of handling around 100tons of cane per hour, will actually use only about 50 HF.

From the above detailed description it will be apparent that there hasbeen provided an improved press for extracting juice fromjuice-containing material, which is both highly eflicient and low in itspower requirements. It should be understood that the described anddisclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention and that allmodifications are intended to be included that do not depart from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a laterally confined space, a point of maximum pressureadjacent a material outlet end of said space, means for moving a mass ofjuice-containing material through said space and past said pressurepoint, said space being of such shape as with said moving means tosubject said mass to progressively increasing pressure as it movestherethrough, and means for introducing liquid diluent into said spacein advance of said pressure point for flow under positive pressurecounter-current through said mass to a liquid outlet adjacent anopposite end of said space.

2. A press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a laterally confied space, a point of maximum pressure beyonda material outlet end of said space, rotary means for moving a mass ofjuicecontaining material through said space and past said pressurepoint, said space being of such shape as with said moving means tosubject said mass to progressively increasing pressure as it movestherethrough, and means for injecting liquid diluent under pressure intosaid space in advance of said pressure point for flow counter-currentthrough said mass to a liquid outlet adjacent and opposite end of saidspace under a positive pressure in part produced by the progressivelyincreasing pressure to which said mass is subjected.

3. A press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a laterally confined space, a point of maximum pressureadjacent a material outlet end of said space, non-rotary means at a sideof said space, a rotary member for moving a mass of juice-containingmaterial through said space over said non-rotary means and past saidpressure point, said space being of such shape as with said rotarymember to subject said mass to progressively increasing pressure as itmoves therethrough, a liquid outlet in a side of said space adjacent anend thereof opposite said outlet end, and means for introducing liquiddiluent into said space in advance of said pressure point for flowcounter-current through said mass to said liquid outlet under a positivepressure in part produced by the progressively increasing pressure towhich said mass is subjected.

4. A press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a laterally confined space progresively decreasing incross-section toward a material outlet end thereof for subjecting a massof juicecontaining material moved therethrough to progressivelyincreasing pressure, a point of maximum pressure adjacent said end ofsaid space, rotary means for moving said mass through said space andpast said pressure point, and means for introducing liquid diluent intosaid space in advance of said pressure :point for flow counter-currentthrough said mass to a liquid outlet adjacent an opposite end of saidspace under a positive pressure in part produced by the progressivelyincreasing pressure to which said mass is subjected.

5. A rotary press for extracting juice from juice-containing materialcom-prising a rotary member, a nonrotary member confronting and spacedfrom a side of said rotary member and with said side partly defining alaterally confined space of progressively decreasing crosss ectiontoward a material outlet end thereof for subjecting a mass ofjuice-containing material moved through said space to progressivelyincreasing pressure, a point of maximum pressure adjacent said outletend of said space, means on said rotary member for moving said massthrough said space over said non-rotary member and past said pressurepoint, and means for introducing a liquid diluent into said space inadvance of said pressure point for flow counter-current through saidmass to a liquid outlet adjacent an opposite end of said space under apositive pressure produced in part by the progressively increasingpressure to which said mass is subjected.

6. A rotary press for extracting juice from juice-containing materialcomprising a rotary drum, a non-rotary pressure member confronting andspaced from a side of said rotary drum and with said side definingvertical limits of a laterally confined space of progressivelydecreasing cross-section toward a material outlet end thereof forsubjecting a mass of juice-containing material moved through said spaceto progressively increasing pressure, a point of maximum pressureadjacent said outlet end of said space, means on said rotary drum formoving said mass through said space over said non-rotary member and:past said pressure point, and means for introducing a liquid diluentinto said space in advance of said pressure point for flowcounter-current through said mass to a liquid outlet adjacent anopposite end of said space under a positive pressure produce-d in partby the progressively increasing pressure to which said mass issubjected.

7. A rotary press for extracting juice from juice-containing materialcomprising a rotary drum having a roughened side, a non-rotary pressuremember having a lubricious surface confronting and spaced from said sideof said drum and with said side defining vertical limits of a laterallyconfined space of progressively decreasing cross-section toward amaterial outlet and thereof for subjecting a mass of juice-containingmaterial moved through said space to progressively increasing pressure,a point of maximum pressure adjacent said outlet end of said space,means on said drum and cooperating with said side thereof for movingsaid mass through said space over said non-rotary member and past saidpressure point, and means for introducing a liquid diluent into saidspace through said surface of said non-rotary member in advance of saidpressure point for flow counter-current through said mass to a liquidoutlet adjacent an opposite end of said space under a positive pressureproduced in part by the progressively increasing pressure to which saidmass is subjected.

8. A rotary press for extracting juice from juice-containing materialcomprising a rotary drum, a pressure plate movable relative to having .asmooth surface confronting and spaced from a side of said drum. anddefining with said side vertical limits of a laterally confined pressurespace of progressively decreasing cross-section for subjecting a mass ofjuice-containing material moved through said space to progressivelyincreasing pressure, a point of maximum pressure adjacent a materialoutlet end of said space, means for moving said plate and therebyvarying a vertical dimension of said space, means on said drum formoving said mass through said space over said surface and past saidpressure point, and means for introducing a liquid diluent through saidsurface into and substantially across said space in advance of saidpressure point for flow counter-current through said mass to a liquidoutlet adjacent an opposite end of said space under a positive pressureproduced in part by the progressively increasing pressure to which saidmass is subjected.

9. A rotary press for extracting juice from juice-containing materialcomprising a rotary drum, a non-rotary pressure plate having a surfaceconfronting and spaced from a side of said drum and with said sidedefining vertical limits of a laterally confined space of progressive--ly decreasing cross-section for subjecting a mass of juicecontainingmaterial move therethrough to progressively increasing pressure, asqueeze roll positioned beyond a material discharge end of said spacefor engaging and with said drum side squeezing liquid from materialdischarged from said space, means on said drum for moving said massthrough said space to said squeeze roll, and means for introducing aliquid diluent under positive pressure into said space in advance ofsaid squeeze roll and with the progressively increasing pressure appliedto said material forcing said diluent under positive pressurecounter-current through said mass to a liquid outlet adjacent anopposite end of said space.

10. A rotary press for extracting juice from juice-containing materialcomprising a rotary drum having a roughened side, a stationary pressuremember having a smooth surface confronting and spaced from said side ofsaid drum and with said side defining vertical limits of a laterallyconfined space of progressively decreasing crosssection toward amaterial outlet end thereof for subjecting a mass of juice-containingmaterial moved therethrough to progressively increasing pressure, apoint of maximum pressure adjacent said outlet end of said space, meanscoacting with said drum side for moving a mass of juiceoont-ainingmaterial to and through said space over said smooth surface and pastsaid pressure point, and means for introducing a liquid diluent intosaid space in advance of said pressure point for flow counter-currentthrough said mass to a liquid outlet adjacent an opposite end of saidspace under a positive pressure produced in part by said progressivelyincreasing pressure on said mass;

11. A rotary press for extracting juice from juice-containing materialcomprising a rotary drum having a roughened side, a stationary pressuremember having a smooth surface confronting and spaced from said side ofsaid drum and with said side defining vertical limits of a laterallyconfined space of progressively decreasing crosssection toward amaterial outlet end thereof for subjecting a mass of juice-containingmaterial moved through said space to progressively increasing pressure,a point of maximum pressure adjacent said outlet end of said space, aplurality of tines having inner ends contained in said drum and arrangedin circumferentially and laterally spaced relation about and projectableand retractable relative to said side, said tines co-acting with saidside for moving said mass to and through said space over said smoothsurf-ace and past said pressure point, and means for introducing aliquid diluent into said space in advance of said pressure point forflow under positive pressure counter-current through said massto aliquid outlet adjacent an opposite end of said space in response to aforce thereon produced in part by the progressively increasing pressureon said mass.

12. A rotary press for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcom-prising a rotary drum having a grooved side, a stationary pressuremember having a smooth surface confronting and spaced from said side ofsaid drum and with said side defining vertical limits of a laterallyconfined space of progressively decreasing cross-section toward amaterial outlet end thereof for subjecting a mass of juice-containingmaterial moved through said space to progressively increasing pressure,a point of maximum pressure adjacent said outlet end of said space, aplurality of tines having inner ends contained in said drum and arrangedin laterally and circumfe-rentially spaced relation about said side andmounted therein for radial reciprocation relative thereto, means forprojecting said tines :beyond said side over a part of the path ofrotary movement thereof, said tines c-o-acting with the grooving of saidside for moving said mass to and through said space over said smoothsurface and past said pressure point, and means for introducing a liquiddiluent into said space in advance of said pressure point for flow underpositive pressure counter-current through said mass to a liquid outletadjacent an opposite end of said space in response to a force thereon inpart produced by the progressively increasing pressure on said mass.

13. A rotary press for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a rotary drum, a stationary pressure member having a smoothsurface confronting and spaced from a side of said drum and with saidside defining vertical limits of a laterally confined space ofprogressively decreasing cross-section toward a material outlet endthereof for subjecting a mass of juice-containing material moved throughsaid space to progressively increasing pressure, a point of maximumpressure adjacent said outlet end of said space, a plurality of tineshaving inner ends contained in said drum and arranged in laterally andcircumferentially spaced relation about said side and mounted thereinfor radial reciprocation relative thereto, means for projecting saidtines beyond said side over a part of the path of rotary movementthereof, said tines on projection being engageable with juice-containingmaterial for moving said mass thereof through said space over saidsmooth surface and past said pressure point, and means for introducing aliquid diluen-t into said space in advance of said pressure point forflow under positive pressure counter-current through said mass to aliquid outlet adjacent an opposite end of said space in response to aforce thereon in part produced by said progressively increasing pressureon said mass.

14. A rotary press for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a rotary drum, a stationary pressure member having a smoothsurface confronting and spaced from a side of said drum and with saidside defining vertical limits of a laterally con fined space ofprogressively decreasing cross-section toward a material outlet endthereof for subjecting a mass of juiceoontaining material movedtherethrough to progressively increasing pressure, a point of maximumpressure adjacent said outlet end of said space, a plurality of tineshaving inner ends contained in said drum and arranged in laterally andcircumferen-tially spaced relation about said side and mounted thereinfor radial reciprocation relative thereto, means for projecting saidtines beyond said side over a part of the path of rotary movementthereof, said tines on projection being engageable with wetjuicec-ontaini'ng material for moving said mass thereof to said spaceand toward said pressure point, and means for introducing a liquiddiluent into said space in advance of said pressure point for flow underpositive pressure counter-current through said mass to a liquid outletadjacent an opposite end of said space in response to a force thereon inpart produced by the progressively increasing pressure on said mass.

15. 'In a press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontainingmaterial, a rotary member, a stationary partly perforate wallconfronting a side of said rotary member and therewith defining oppositesides of a laterally confined space, a pressure point adjacent amaterial outlet end of said space, a plurality of separate tines havinginner ends contained in said member and spaced laterally andcircumferentially about and mounted for radial reciprocation in saidside of said member, and means to which said times are individuallyreleasably connected for progressively projecting and retracting saidtines relative to said member side over the path of rotary movementthereof respectively for engaging and disengaging juice-cont ainingmaterial and on engagement feed ing a wet mass of said material intosaid space past said perforate part of said well toward said pressurepoint.

16. In a press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontainingmaterial, a rotary drum, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth cylindrically concave trailing part confronting a side of saiddrum and defining therewith opposite sides of a laterally confinedspace, a pressure point adjacent a trailing end of said space, aplurality of separate tines having inner ends contained in said drum andarranged in laterally and circumferentially spaced relation about andmounted for radial reciprocation in said drum side, drive means in saiddrum to which said tines are individually releasably connected forprogressively projecting and retracting said tines relative to -1 7 saiddrum side over the path of rotary movement thereof respectively forengaging and disengaging juice-containing material and on engagementfeeding a mass of said material into said space past said perforate partof said wall toward said pressure point.

;17. In a press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontainingmaterial, a rotary drum, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth cylindrically concave trailing part confronting a side of saiddrum and defining therewith opposite sides of a laterally confinedspace, a pressure point adjacent a trailing end of said space, aplurality of separate tines having inner ends contained in said drum andarranged in laterally spaced relation in each of a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced rows about and mounted for radial reciprocationin said drum side, a cylindrical member mounted in said drum eccentricthereto and substantially concentric with said trailing part of saidwall, and a driving connection between said cylindrical member and saidinner end of said tines for individually releasably connecting saidtines thereto and progressively projecting and retracting said tinesrelative to said drum side over the path of rotary movement thereofrespectively for engaging and disengaging juice-containing material andon engagement feeding a mass of said material into said space past saidperforate part of said wall toward said pressure point.

18. In a press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontainingmaterial, a rotary drum, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth cylindrically concave trailing part confronting a side of saiddrum and defining there-with opposite sides of a laterally confinedspace, a pressure point adjacent a trailing end of said space, aplurality of separate tines having inner ends contained in said drum andarranged in laterally spaced relation in each of a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced rows about and mounted for radial reciprocationin said drum side, a cylindrical member mounted in said drum eccentricthereto and substantially concentric with said cylindrical part of saidwall, and a plurality of laterally spaced annular tracks fixed to andextending around a side of said cylindrical member and each releasablyinterlocking individually with inner ends of circumferentially spacedand aligned tines for progressively projecting and retracting said tinesrelative to said drum side over the path of rotary movement thereofrespectively for engaging and disengaging juice-containing material andon engagement feeding a mass of said material into said space past saidperforate part of said wall toward said pressure point.

19. In a press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontainingmaterial, a rotary drum, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth cylindrically concave trailing part confronting a side of saiddrum and defining therewith opposite sides of a laterally confinedspace, a pressure point adjacent a trailing end of said space, aplurality of spaced tines arranged about and mounted for radialreciprocation in said drum side, a cylindrical member mounted in saiddrum eccentric thereto and substantially concentric with saidcylindrical part of said wall, and magnetic means carried by saidcylindrical member for holding inner ends of said tines against asurface thereof and enabling said member progressively to project andretract said tines relative to said drum side over the path of rotarymovement thereof respectively for engaging and disengagingjuice-containing material and on engagement feeding a mass of saidmaterial into said space past said perforate part of said wall towardsaid pressure point.

20. In a press assembly for extracting juice from juice-containingmaterial, a rotary drum, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth cylindrically concave trailing part confronting a side of saiddrum and defining therewith opposite sides of a laterally confinedspace, a pressure point adjacent a trailing end of said space, aplurality of spaced .tines arranged about and mounted for radialreciprocation in said drum side, a cylindrical member mounted forindependent rotation in said drum eccentric thereto and substantiallyconcentric with said cylindrical part of said wall, and a plurality ofpermanent magnets embedded in said cylindrical member and eachpositioned to act on certain of said tines for holding inner endsthereof substantially immovably against a surface of said member andenabling said member to rotate with and progressively project andretract said tines relative to said drum side over the path of rotarymovement thereof respectively for engaging and disengagingjuice-containing material and on engagement feeding a mass of saidmaterial into said space past said perforate part of said wall towardsaid pressure point.

21. In a press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontainingmaterial, a rotary drum, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth cylindrically concave trailing part confronting a side of saiddrum and defining therewith opposite sides of a laterally confinedspace, a pressure point adjacent a trailing end of said space, aplurality 'of tines having inner ends contained in said drum andarranged about in laterally and circumferentially spaced relation andmounted for radial reciprocation in said drum side, a cylindrical memberrotatably mounted in said drum eccentric thereto and substantiallyconcentric with said trailing part of said wall, and a drivingconnection between said cylindrical member and said tines for causingsaid cylindrical member to rotate substantially with said tines and saidtines to progressively project and retract relative to said wall overthe path of rotary movement respectively for engaging and disengagingjuice-containing material and on engagement feeding a mass of saidmaterial into said space past said perforate part of said wall towardsaid pressure point.

22. In a press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontainingmaterial, a rotary drum, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth cylindrically concave trailing part confronting a side of saiddrum and defining therewith opposite sides of a laterally confinedspace, a pressure point adjacent a trailing end of said space, aplurality of tines having inner ends contained in said drum and arrangedin laterally and circumferentially spaced relation about and mounted forradial reciprocation in said drum side, a cylindrical member rotatablymounted in said drum eccentric thereto and substantially concentric withsaid trailing part of said wall, a driving connection between saidcylindrical member and said tines for causing said cylindrical member torotate substantially with said tines and said tines to progressivelyproject and retract relative to said wall over the path of rotarymovement respectively for engaging and disengaging juice-containingmaterial and on engagement feeding a mass of said material into saidspace past said perforate part of said wall toward said pressure point,and means for selectively shifting the axis of said cylindrical memberand thereby varying the point of maximum projection of said tinesrelative to said drum side.

23-. A juice press comprising a rotary drum having a roughened side, awall having a perforate leading part and a smooth trailing partconfronting said side of said drum and therewith defining opposite sidesof a laterally confined space, a point of maximum pressure adjacent amaterial outlet end of said space, a feed roll having a roughenedsurface facing and co-acting with said roughened side of said drum forfeeding a mass of juice-containing material into said space past saidperforate part of said wall, and means for introducing a liquid diluentinto said space in advance of said pressure point, said diluent inresponse to force thereon flowing under positive pressurecounter-current through said mass of material to said perforate part ofsaid wall.

24. A juice press comprising a rotary drum having a circumferentiallyand cross-grooved side, a wall having a perforate leading part and asmooth trailing part confronting said side of said drum and therewithdefining opposite sides of a laterally confined space, a point ofmaximum pressure adjacent a material outlet end of said space, a feedroll having a circumferentially and crossgrooved surface facing andco-acting with said side of said drum for feeding a mass ofjuice-containing material into said space past said perforate part ofsaid Wall, and means for introducing a liquid diluent into said space inadvance of said pressure point, said diluent in response to forcethereon flowing under positive pressure countercurrent through said massof material to said perforate part of said Wall.

25. A press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a laterally confined space, a point :of maximum pressureadjacent a material outlet end of said space, means for moving a mass ofjuice-containing material through said space and past said pressurepoint, means for introducing liquid diluent into said space in advanceof said pressure point for flow under positive pressure counter-currentthrough said mass to a liquid outlet adjacent an opposite end of saidspace, and means fior introducing individual slugs of air into saiddiluent in advance of introduction thereof into said space.

2-6. A press assembly for extracting juice from juicecontaining materialcomprising a rotary drum having a grooved side, a Wall having aperforate leading part and a smooth trailing part confronting said sideof said drum and therewith defining opposite sides of a laterallyconfined space, a squeeze roll confronting said grooved side beyond amaterial discharge end of said space for expressing liquid from materialdischarged from said space,

means cooperating with said grooved side for moving a mass ofjuice-containing material through said space to said squeeze roll, andmeans for introducing a liquid diluent into said space in advance ofsaid squeeze roll, said diluent in response to force thereon flowingunder positive pressure counter-current through said mass of material tosaid perforate part of said Wall.

References {Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,847 3/1873McCreight et a1. 100-156 423,869 3/1890 Hyatt 1273 595,137 12/1897 Bell100173 X 740,168 9/ 1903 Neuert 100-156 947,013 1/1910 Dowd 100971,997,611 4/1935 Thompson 10075 X 2,183,837 12/1939 Hamilton et al 1273X 2,515,749 7/1950 Wallace et al 100-156 X FOREIGN PATENTS 18,392 1/1914France.

(5th addition to No. 382,829) 562,336 8/ 1923 France. 133,785 9/ 1929Switzerland.

LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Primary Examiner.

W'ALTER A. SOHEEL, Examiner.

1. A PRESS ASSEMBLY FOR EXTRACTING JUICE FROM JUICECONTAINING MATERIALCOMPRISING A LATERALLY CONFINED SPACE, A POINT OF MAXIMUM PRESSUREADJACENT A MATERIAL OUTLET END OF SAID SPACE, MEANS FOR MOVING A MASS OFJUICE-CONTAINING MATERIAL THROUGH SAID SPACE AND PAST SAID PRESSUREPOINT, SAID SPACE BEING OF SUCH SHAPE AS WITH SAID MOVING MEANS TOSUBJECT SAID MASS TO PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING PRESSURE AT IT MOVESTHERETHROUGH, AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING LIQUID DILUENT INTO SAID SPACEIN ADVANCE OF SAID PRESSURE POINT FOR FLOW UNDER POSITIVE PRESSURECOUNTTER-CURRENT THROUGH SAID MASS TO A LIQUID OUTLET ADJACENT ANOPPOSITE END OF SAID SPACE.